Middridge Village held its annual Fete last Saturday with former Deputy Chairman of the County Council Mike Dixon conducting the official opening. Numerous stalls filled the green opposite the Bay Horse and the centre arena provided room for a Viking/Saxon reenactment of life and fighting in medieval England. Children were invited to take part and really enjoyed slaughtering the invaders. David Sutton-Lloyd provided a demonstration of how easy it is to use a defibrillator to save the life of heart attack victims.

The Dog Show attracted many entries and prizes were won for various categories including the “Mut of Middridge”. It was nice to see and hear Aycliffe & Brancepeth Brass Brandunder conductor Mike Priestley add fantastic music to a traditional British occasion. Acle Early Medieval Reenactment Group was formed in 2010 and are based in Newton Aycliffe.  They portray living history and demonstrations of combat from the first Viking invasions through to the Norman Conquest, and have recently been involved with the re-launch of Jarrow Hall, formerly Bede’s World, occupying their Anglo-Saxon farm.

Part of the demonstrations offered include showing and teaching children about arms and weaponry and the children form the ‘Fyrd’ which is a band of Saxon warriors; they then get to fight off any marauding Vikings! Acle train every first Thursday of the month at Middridge Village Hall; for more information contact Wendy Findlay on 07794 065664